Two distinct moments. Barely thirty minutes apart. Two details that wonderfully illustrate the importance of this competition to the players.
Let’s start with the hug. It’s 11 o’clock local time. We are at hole 17 of Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Moments before, on the 16th fairway, there has been a conclave between the European captain and her assistants. It is not heard, but it is perfectly understood that they are finalising the pairs for the afternoon. It is not certain, but it is perceived that way. Meanwhile, all attention is focused on the match between Nelly Korda and Allison Corpuz against Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen. It’s exciting and everything is yet to be decided.
However, on one side of the 17th fairway, and next to a European team buggy, an image takes place that will make sense a few minutes later. Maguire is with her teammates cheering on the team. I am a few meters away. Suzann approaches, they move aside and she embraces the Irishwoman while whispering something in her ear. An emotional hug that ends after a few seconds. When they separate they barely continue talking but, at a certain distance, among several things she says, one can understand: “Leona, I trust you”. The Irishwoman cannot hold the captain’s gaze, lowers her head and takes out her mobile phone. Honestly, seeing that scene, I thought she had communicated the afternoon match she was going to play and was motivating her to bring out her best level.
Less than an hour later that hug takes on another dimension. Leona is not going to play in the afternoon session either and it seems that she was communicating it at that moment. Suzann reminds her that she trusts her, in fact she played all five points at Finca Cortesín, but she understands that there are four pairs more prepared than her at this moment. A matter of feelings, of feeling and of decisions that a captain has to make. No one could have envisaged a Solheim with only two appearances by Maguire, no one. Whoever says otherwise should communicate the Christmas lottery number, I beg them. Suzann makes a difficult decision, but she faces it head on and encourages her player despite the bitter pill for both.
The second moment occurs just twenty minutes later on the 18th hole green. Carlota has missed the victory and is waiting with her teammates for the match of Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit to finish on that same green. The cameras focus on the competition when, suddenly, the Spaniard breaks down. She gets emotional. She knows they were close to victory and that point was key to the European aspirations of a comeback. For two hours the American side has opened the door and they have not been able to take advantage of it. Carlota is overwhelmed by frustration and helplessness. The responsibility of the greats.
Europe is a team and they spring into action to support the heroine of 2023. She can barely wait for the incoming match to finish and Carlota leaves like a flash. She needs privacy and a good vent.
The Solheim in two strokes. The bitter face of a partial defeat and a tough decision. That’s also what competition is like.
